Rectifier system.



A. L. ATHE'RTON- RECTIFIER SYSTEM- APPLVICAHQN FILED APR. I. 1915.

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INVENTOR A/fred z maria/7 Patented J an. 30, 1917.

- a citizen of the United .tvpe. The core i in are,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- RECTIFIER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Jan. so, rare.

Application filed April 1, 1915. Serial No. 18,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. ATHER'roN,

States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rectifier Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to current rectifying systems, particularly those embodying rectifiers of the vapor-arc type, and it has for its object to provide means whereby systems of the character indicated may be started in operation in a simple, economical and effective manner.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of a rectix fier of the vapor-arc type, together with suitable supply, load and starting circuits constructed in accordance with my invention.

In anapplication Q. A. Brackett, Serial for Letters Patent of No. 23,427, filed con- 'currently herewith and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,'is disclosed a system of starting vapor rectifiers by an electromotive force induced in an auxiliary winding on the transformer, said auxiliary winding being idle except during the starting period.

By my invention, I provide connections whereby the auxiliary inducing winding is normally employed as a maintaining reactance' device for the vapor rectifier and is. adapted for the generation of a starting electromotive force by an alteration in the magnetic conditions within the transformer core.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a rectifier of the vapor-arc type is provided with suitable anodes 2- 2, a cathode 3 and an auxiliary starting anode 4. Current is supplied to the main anodes 22 from the terminals 5-'5 of the secondary winding of an auto-transformer 6, the primary winding of which is energized from suitable mains 17.

The primary and secondary windings of the transform er 6 are each split in halves and one half ofeach is mounted upon each side of a rectangular core 15 of the usual 15 is provided with a middle leg 7 in inductive relation to an auxiliary winding 8, one terminal of which is connected to the cathode 3 and the other, through a suitable battery load 9, to the mid point 10 of the secondary winding of the auto transformer 6. The lower terminal of the winding. 8 is also connected, through a regulating resistance member 11 and .a switch 12 to the auxiliary starting anode 4.

An auxiliary ance member 13, may one half of the primary windlng of transformer 6 by a suitable switch 14:.

Under normal operating conditions, the two halves of the primary winding serve as sources of magnetomotive force for producing flux in the core 15 and, considering the magnetic potentials throughout said core in a given direction, the instantaneous values are such that there is a rise in magnetic potential as one traverses, for example, the portion of the, core embraced by the right hand primary-winding; there is a fall of magnetic potential in traversing the lower cross member; there is another rise in magnetic potential in traversing the portion of the core member embraced by the left hand primary winding and a fall in magnetic potential in traversing the remainder of the core. All this action is in strict analogy to the rise and fall of electric potential in' a closed electric circu't containing a plurality of sources and a plurality of resistance members interspersed therebetween and, furthermore, by the application of Kirchofl"s Second Law, ments and decrements in magnetic potential through the core 15, due to the magnetizing action ofthe primary windings, is equal 'to zero. The middle member 7 of the transformer 6 is symmetrically disposed with respect to the two halves of the primary wind the two ends thereof mg and, accordingly, are at equal magnetic potential with respect flux and no to the primary or working magnetic flux flows therethrough to induce an E. M. F. in the winding 8 when the secondary winding is open. Turning now to the action of the secondary flux, if the left load, comprising a resistbe connected across the the sum of the increhand anode is positive and, therefore, active, I

the flow of current thereto produces a downward flow of secondary flux in the left hand member of the transformer core, and said secondary flux divides, a portion completing its circuit through the middle member 7 I without departing from and the remainder through the right band member of the transformer core. In like manner, when the right hand anode member 2 is positive and active, the flow of current thereto produces a downward flux in the right hand member of the transformer core and said flux completes its circuit partially through the middle member 7 andpartially through the left hand member of the transformer core. It will be noted that all of the secondary flux that flows through the middle member 7 flows in the same direction; that is to sa the flux is rectified and there being substantially no rate of change therein, there is substantially no resultant E. M.'F. induced in the Winding 8. Thus, during normal operation, there is induced in the winding 8 substantially no E. M. F. from either the primary or the secondary working flux of the transformer 6. When, however, it is desired to start the device in operation, the switches 12 and 14 are closed, imposing the unsymmetrical load 13 upon the primary winding of the transformer and causing a magnetic flux to flow in the transformer core in such manner that the two ends of the middle leg 7 are at different magnetic potentials. An alternating flux therefore traversesthe leg 7, inducing an electromotive force in the winding 8, which electromotive force is imposed upon the space between the electrodes 3 and 4 through the resistance member 11 and the switch 12. By shaking the rectifier 1, contact is made and broken between the electrodes 3 and 4, whereupon the negativeelectrode reluctance is broken down and the rectifier started into operation.

While I have shown my invention in but one concrete embodiment, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible of various minor changes and modifications the spirit thereof and I desire, therefore, that only such restrictions shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims or are imposed by the prior art.

claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a vapor rectifier, of supply and load circuits therefor, a transformer connected in said supply circult, a maintaining coil connected in said load circuit and mounted in inductive relation to the core of said supply transformer, and means for controlling the working flux of said transformer so that it may be rendered effective or ineffective in inducing a starting E. M.

2. The combination with a vapor rectifier provided with main electrodes and a starting anode adjacent the main cathode, of suitable supply and load circuits connected to said main electrodes, a maintaining reactance device in said load circuit, and means for inducing an E. M. F. in said reactance de- F. in said maintaining coil.

vice tending to establish a starting are between said cathode.

3. The combination with a vapor rectifier provided with main electrodes and a starting anode, of a transformer, connections from the terminals of the secondary winding of said transformer to the main anodes of said rectifier, a connection from the cathode of said rectifier to substantially the midpoint of said secondary winding, a winding inserted in said last named. connection and mounted on an auxiliary core portion of said transformer normally free from alternating flux, means for altering the magnetic conditions in said transformer whereby an alternating E. M. F. auxiliary winding, and connections for applying said E. M. F. to said starting anode.

4. The combination with a rectifier provided with main electrodes and a starting anode, of a transformer provided with split primary and secondary windings, connections from the outer terminals of said secondary winding to the main anodes of said rectifier, a connection from the cathode of said rectifier to substantially the midpoint of said secondary winding, an auxiliary core member on said transformer symmetrically disposed with respect to said half windings whereby it receives no magnetic flux prior to starting said rectifier, a maintaining winding in inductive relation to said auxiliary core member and inserted in said last named connection, means for altering the distribution of magnetic flux in said transformer whereby a variable flux is interlinked with said maintaining winding for the generation of an E. M. F. therein, and connections-whereby said E. M. F. may be impressed between the main cathode and said starting anode.

5. The combination with a rectifier provided with main electrodes and a starting anode, of a transformer provided with split primary and secondary windings, connections from the outer terminals of said secondary winding to the main anodes of said rectifier, a connection from the cathode of said rectifier to substantially the mid point of said secondary winding, an auxiliary core member on said transformer symmetrically disposed with respect to said half windings whereby it receives no magnetic flux prior to starting said rectifier, a maintaining winding in inductive relation to said auxiliary core member and inserted in said last named connection, an auxiliary load, means for supplying said load from a por tion only of the turns of said transformer, whereby the normal distribution of flux therein is altered and a variable flux caused starting anode and he mainwill be induced in said to interlink with said auxiliary winding with ramme" impressed between the main cathode? and said starting anode.

6. The combination with a vapor rectifier, of a transformer. for supplying current thereto, and a maintaining vwinding inserted in the cathode lead thereof and mounted in inductive relation to an auxiliary core member of said transformer that is free from variable flux prior to the starting of said rectifier.

7 Q The combination with a transformer, of an auxiliary core member thereinconnecting points of equal magnetic potential when the secondary winding of said transformer is open, a winding on said auxiliary core member, and means for altering the distribution of flux in said transformer whereby a subscribed my name variable flux is caused to interlink with said winding and generate an E. M. F. therein.

8; The combination with a transformer, of an auxiliary core necting' points when the secondary winding of said transformer is open, a Winding on said auxiliary core member, and means for unsymmetrically loading said transformer, whereby the distribution of magnetic flux is changedand a variable flux is caused to interlink with said auxiliary winding with the generation of an E. M. F. therein.

In testimony whereof, I

this 29th day of March,

ALFRED L; ATHERTON.

member therein con-- of equal magnetic potential have hereunto- 

